WESTERN REEF HERON, 13 May, Sandy Haven

Looks like another good bird that almost slipped through. A first for the UK if accepted. Images from Facebook via Whatsapp.

Dale Airfield and the Gann

From Samuel Levy: The Euro Golden Plover was still present on Dale Airfield this morning but then flew strongly North after being spooked by a Kestrel and didn't return. 

We then headed down to The Gann where little was happening, however while we were eating lunch 3 Black-tailed Godwit appeared over the Bay circling high up before continuing high South!

The best of the rest was a Drake Teal at Marloes Mere later in the afternoon. 

Dale Airfield

From Samuel Levy: 

A quick visit to Dale Airfield this morning saw a small passage of Sand and House Martin over head. But the biggest surprise was a summer plumaged Euro Golden Plover on the western runway    51.715350,-5.196216

Bullfinch

5 Bullfinch including 4 juvenile in the cottage garden where I'm staying in Stepaside and a Red Kite over this morning.  Hopefully i will update with plenty of sightings this evening after a visit to the Deer Park / Marloes / Dale areas later on

 

Steve 

Minwear 5/6 Llawhaden update

Unexpected sight of a Black Swan on the Cleddau down-stream from the viewpoint on 5/6!, loosely associated with a pair of Mute Swans. Despite its escape status it is amazing bird, check out those crinkly tertials!

Also brief view of a sub-adult Peregrine, and distant views of what looked like a family party of Shelduck (pair plus 5 juvs).

Good variety of song birds in the woods but no sight nor sound of any Wood Warblers.

Llawhaden update

First fledgling House Sparrows are out, House Martins are still busy nest building, a pair of Blackbirds are on their second nesting attempt (after we think losing the first brood possibly to a local cat), a male Bullfinch is visiting the apparently collecting seed food and a family party (or 2) of  7+ Mistle Thrushes are around. A pair of Swifts are taking an interest in a nest site under a loose tile in an adjacent house that is already occupied by House Sparrows that are feeding young! 

Pallid harrier, Skomer heading towards mainland

Report of a male Pallid harrier heading east around 2pm.

Cetti, Broad Haven

Found lying on the doorstep of a friend who lives next to the Broad Haven slash pond

David Meanwell

Tenby

From Steve Smith.  

Whilst I was mooching in and around Tenby this morning I saw 3 Chough on St Catherine's island. Adult Gannet over the Bandstand. Male Linnet on bushes near Tenby museum . Juvenile Greenfinch opposite the Croft. 

Sightings

 From Mike Browning. 

Rock Pipit song flight at Strumble.  A pair of Razorbill close in. Kestrel hovering up by the lighthouse.  On the way down to the Observatory a pair of Chough, at least 100 Gannet feeding offshore, with good numbers of Manxies and Auks.

At Abermawr, singing Whitethroat, 3-4 Gannet, a Chough, a Fulmar and the Sand Martin colony.

At Abercastle a single Oystercatcher and Whitethroat.

Spoonbill, Newport (25 May)

From Derek Evans. While on holiday in Newport with the  fabulous hot weather 25th May Spoonbill between 18 00 and 18 30 just from white bridge Nevern Estuary.

Gull and jackdaw roost, 3 curlew, shelduck parents with 12 young, spoonbill feeding with great views, canada geese, oystercatchers, cormorant, shelduck groups 29c.

Dipper, Haverfordwest

From Steve Smith. Dipper on Western Cleddau in Haverfordwest town centre about 3 metres below the weir this morning 

Marloes mere and Brynberian, arrivals and departures

5 whinchat (3f, 2m), on a look around another bit of Brynberian on Saturday afternoon. 2 of the female carrying food and visiting nest sites. Similar numbers of reed bunting, males singing and a female with food. Buzzy redpoll around as well in the gorse. No sight or sound of any cuckoo, so maybe already heading off. 

A lap of Marloes peninsula last night, 18 coot some still on nests, still not seen any youngsters, same with the moorhen but a pair of little grebe were carrying a newt or dragonfly so they must have a nest hidden away. 2 lone male shoveler and a pair. No sign of any shelduck last night, could have just been out of sight. Pair of oystercatchers noisily and persistently driving off a buzzard over the rough pasture towards Martin's Haven. A flock of 21 chough Deer Park side of Renney Slip.

Around and about

Sightings from Mike Browning. Birds seen today include a single Chough seen at Pwllderi, with a further 5 at Strumble.  Two pairs were feeding in the field behind the car park, Manxie over the sea and lots of Gannet.

Nothing much at Goodwick Flags, several pairs of Shelduck at Newport bridge including one pair with 11 ducklings. Several House Martin came in to collect sand for nest building

In Pengelli Forest, a group of 4-5 Treecreeper, singing Chiff-chaff, a cracking male Redstart and virtually the last birds I saw a pair of Pied Flys.

A very enjoyable day, watching birds that aren’t easy to catch up with in Bedfordshire ! 

Yellowhammers, Carew

Sightings from Steve Smith. Steve the visiting Manchester birder back in your amazing county.  While I was walking off my evening meal around Carew Castle millpond on Friday. A Male & Female Yellow Hammer flew along the hedge line adjacent to the picnic benches at the millpond carpark

 Honey Buzzard 26th?

 Thanks for Daves comments.Yesterdays image was very small and I am trying to post a larger image, though still of poor quality. Actually the buzzard has his legs hanging down which may have been a defensive measure, caused when it was buzzed by a high flying corvid and so obscuring the base of the tail, which probably would not have resolved well anyway.

Note also the wing is broadest at the wrist. I have seen a number of HBs and oodles of Common Buzzards. Usually the longer tail and protruding head is enough. 
       

Not just birds at Marloes Mere

Met George at the mere this morning just as he'd found a Lesser emperor. While we watched it patrolling along it's favoured route we realised there were at least 2 others. 20+ red-veined darter with some mating and plenty of commoner dragonflies to look through.  No sign of yesterday's Spoonbill. 

Georges photos of the Lesser Emperor and my Red-veined darter 

Nightjar

From Chris Kirner: Nightjar churring  in Cresselly Big Wood tonight first I’ve heard here in over 20 years.   

Roger's Buzzard

Whilst there are always limitations to making an identification from a single image, I think this is a Common Buzzard (a dark one). The tail pattern does not fit European Honey Buzzard, which should show 3 clear bands, and the neck looks too thick. Tricky birds unless seen very well, and the distinctive 'jizz' is hard to convey in a single photo.

 Honey Buzzard- E.Haverfordwest

At about 2.30, while working on a small job in the garden, at 28 deg.C, I saw a Buzzard circling in the east. This is not unusual since I am only 200 yds. from open country. Once again I dashed indoors to get my camera. The buzzard was now circling quite high and went out of sight vertically.                     Checking the images, I noticed the longish tail not fanned, the long/protruding neck/head, the pinched in wing effect and the broad black band to the rear of the underwing and at the end of the tail, thus arriving at an I.D. of Honey Buzzard. If anyone with expertise has an opinion, I would be glad to hear.

Spoonbill

 At Marloes Mere this afternoon, same bird as seen yesterday at Dinas (?)